The nationally-ranked Saint John's University wrestling team travels to compete at the Wis.-La Crosse Duals this Saturday, Dec. 5. The Johnnies will face No. 9 North Central (Ill.) at 9 a.m., Wis.-Eau Claire at 11 a.m. and No. 10 Cornell (Iowa) at 1 p.m. Competition will be held at the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse in La Crosse, Wis. - Directions
A LOOK AT THE JOHNNIES: No. 5 Saint John's began dual competition with a 26-16 win over Loras (Iowa) before falling to No. 6 Wartburg (Iowa), 31-14. Senior Mogi Baatar (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), ranked No. 3 at 133 pounds, won both of his matches by major decision with a combined score of 29-11. Junior Matt Baarson (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park), ranked No. 6 at 157 pounds, also went 2-0 but at 165 pounds. He posted a technical fall in 3:07 over Loras' Willie Sleyden and won by major decision over Wartburg's Adam Weber, 13-5. Sophomore Matt Pfarr (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson) pinned the Duhawks' Josh Porter in 2:31 and posted the night's biggest upset, a 6-4 win over Wartburg's Carrington Banks, who is ranked No. 6 nationally. The Johnnies were without defending national champion Minga Batsukh (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia/St. Benedict's Prep, N.J.), who is ranked No. 1 at 141; junior Dustin Baxter (Fairbanks, Alaska/West Valley), who is ranked No. 5 at 184 pounds; sophomore Chad Henle (Spicer, Minn./New London-Spicer) at 125 pounds; and sophomore Cody Socher (Delano, Minn.) at heavyweight.
A LOOK AT NORTH CENTRAL: The Cardinals are ranked No. 9 in the latest NWCA Division III Brute Adidas poll released Nov. 17. Senior All-American Gabe Youel finished fourth at last year's national championships and is currently ranked No. 2 at 184 pounds. North Central has opened the season with a 4-1 dual record.
THE LAST MEETING: The Johnnies defeated then-ranked No. 7 North Central 19-18 at last year's Lakeland Duals on Nov. 22, 2008. Baatar posted a major decision over Nathan Fitzenreider 11-3, Batsukh defeated Jamie Devine 14-8, junior Tony Willaert (North Mankato, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial) defeated Vinnie Sapienza 5-4, and Socher pinned Andrew Mendoza.
A LOOK AT EAU CLAIRE: The Blugolds are under the direction of first-year head coach Derek Sikora, a national champion and three-time All-American wrestler for UWEC. The team is led by senior Andy Johnston, a native of St. Cloud, Minn. Johnston totaled a 27-9 record and finished second at 149 pounds at last year's WIAC championships.
THE LAST MEETING: Like North Central, SJU defeated the Blugolds 36-7 at the Lakeland Duals on Nov. 22, 2008. Henle and Batsukh pinned each of their opponents, while Baarson, Socher, Willaert and junior Dustin Raygor (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) all picked up decisions.
A LOOK AT CORNELL: No. 10 Cornell has five individuals ranked in the NWCA Division III Brute Adidas poll released Nov. 17: sophomore Tim Hood is ninth at 125 pounds; senior Nick Northern is No. 1 at 133 pounds; junior Kevin Donahue is third at 141 pounds; junior Ryan Mulnix is ninth at 149 pounds; and sophomore Andrew Roberts is 10th at 184 pounds.
THE LAST MEETING: Saint John's defeated Cornell 18-15 at last year's Wis.-La Crosse Duals on Dec. 6, 2008. Baatar defeated Northern 3-2, while Baxter had a major decision over Carmen Sacco, 14-4. Willaert also earned a major decision with a 12-1 victory over Bob Widmer.
